Melanie Howard

Compliance Specialist

Melanie Howard serves as a Compliance Specialist for RIA Compliance Consultants, Inc. She assists the Senior Compliance Consultants with day-to-day operations, including but is not limited to, document drafting, annual amendments, submission of regulatory documents, and client communications.

Melanie has 16 years of experience serving as a paralegal. In 2000, she received a Bachelors of Science degree in Paralegal Studies from the University of Great Falls, Great Falls, MT, an ABA accredited program. She is currently working towards her Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional® (IACCP®) program designation. Melanie has worked in numerous legal fields including criminal, civil and immigration law in both Montana and Nebraska. She brings a diverse experience in multiple state and federal filings, as well as database management and excellent client relations.

For More Information

For More Information

To learn more about our services and products or to set up a time to speak with one of our Compliance Consultants call:

Annual Investment Advisor Compliance Program

RIA Compliance Consultants|877-345-4034|

* Nature of a Consulting Relationship – Not a Law Firm

Although RIA Compliance Consultants, Inc. (“RCC”) is an affiliate of a law firm and RCC may have an individual on its staff that is also licensed as an attorney providing legal services in a completely separate capacity, RCC is not a law firm or an attorney and does not provide legal services or legal advice.

In general, a licensed attorney is regulated by his or her state supreme court through the use of rules of professional conduct, minimum education and examination requirements and a disciplinary process. Unlike a client of an attorney, a client of RCC will not receive the advantages of such regulatory oversight since the compliance consultant occupation is not licensed by state government.

A compliance consulting relationship with RCC is not provided those legal and professional protections that normally exist under an attorney-client relationship such as the following: (a) privileged communication between an attorney and client; (b) the requirement for an attorney to use a client trust account for safekeeping of fees paid in advance; or (c) prohibitions preventing an attorney from having impermissible relationships with clients, representing other persons with conflicting interests, receiving referral fees from third-party vendors, or prospectively limiting liability for malpractice through a contractual provision in a client agreement.

In the event that a securities regulator has initiated an enforcement proceeding claiming an individual or entity has violated the applicable law, such individual or entity will need to retain legal counsel to represent the individual or entity before the securities regulator. Although RCC may serve as an expert regarding industry practices, RCC is not a substitute for engaging appropriate legal counsel to represent such individual or entity.

The determination to use a third-party compliance services provider is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise. A description or indication of limitation of our compliance services does not mean that an agency or board has certified RCC as a specialist or expert in investment advisor compliance. All potential clients are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of RCC.